Convertible couch



Aug. 9, 1955 J. A. BQHNSACK ET AL 2,714,729

CONVERTIBLE COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1952 Aug 9, 1955 .1. A. BoHNsAcK ET AL CONVERTIBLE COUCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 27, 1952 N/ENTORS Jahn, f7. ouwaf V @arles C BY ATTORNEY J ET United States Patent Oliice 2,714,729 Patented Aug. 9, 1955 CONVERTIBLE COUCH John A. Bohnsack, Pottsville, Pa., and Charles C. Gueli, Corona, N. Y.

Application August 27, 1952, Serial No. 306,678

7 Claims. (Cl. S-43) This invention relates to convertible couches and similar articles, and more particularly to an article of this kind adapted to be `readily converted from a couch or settee to a bed, with a minimum of effort.

Many of the prior articles of this kind include mechanisms by means of which a mattress employed in the same, requires folding or doubling over in order to enable the mattress to lit into that portion of the couch frame intended to house and conceal the mattress while the couch is in its normal or closed position. Other constructions involve the employment of a sectional mattress. These arrangements usually prevent the use of a soft, comfortable mattress comparable to that used on a bed and have other disadvantages. In most types of convertible couches, the mattress-supporting frame is hinged or folded in such a manner that when opened to its mattress-supporting position, it extends outwardly from the couch trarne to such an extent as to greatly increase the iloor space required by the opened couch. Thus, couches so constructed are usable only when sufficient space is provided around them to enable them to be opened. ln small apartments, on ship-board or in other locations where floor .space is restricted, it is desirable that a convertible couch, when opened, shall not require much more door space than that which it occupies while in its closed position.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a convertible couch or other similar article of furniture, of such construction that the saine, whether open or closed, shall occupy substantially the same oor space. lt is a further object of the invention to provide a convertible conch construction in which neither the upholstery of the couch nor the mattress shall be folded or doubled while the couch is in its open or closed position.

it is another object of the invention to provide, in a couch of the character described, a sturdy mechanism by means of which the mattress-carrying support can be moved with a minimum of effort to either its supporting position or to its resting or inoperative position and will rmly and rigidly maintain the adjustable parts in the positions in which they are set.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an illsutrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a convertible couch constructed in accordance with the invention, the couch being shown in its normal or closed position, and the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional View, but showing the conch in its open position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the couch, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figlr is a sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing, the couch is provided with a Supporting frame which includes the two end members or amis indicated respectively at 1 and 2, connected by a back panel 3, and braced at the top by the longitudinal bar 4 and near the bottom by the longitudinal bar 5. A suitably upholstered seat 6a is fixedly mounted and supported between the end members or arms 1 and 2 of the couch. The body of the couch may be made in various designs without material change in the operating elements to be described.

The movable portion of the couch is in the form of a combination back-rest and mattress support and it includes a frame generally indicated at 6, said frame being suitably upholstered as indicated at 7 to provide an outer cushioned face against which the back of the user is rested when the couch is in its closed position, or that 'f shown in Fig. l. A mattress or other suitable bedding is seated in the opposite side of the frame, as indicated by the dot-and-dash line in Fig. 3 and by the dotted line in Fig. 1, which mattress may be supported by springs S0 (Fig. 4), the mattress having been omitted in other views of the drawing to avoid obscuring the operating mechamsm.

Secured to each of the opposite end members 8 of the frame 6, as by the rivets 9 or similar fastening elements, is an angle bar l0 which forms a support for an angular bracket 11 having a projecting ange 12 fastened by rivets 13 to the angle bar 10. One end of the flange of the bar 10 is turned upwardly and over the end of the flange 12, as indicated at 14 in Figs. 1 and 2, while the opposite end of the llange 12 is bent around the adjacent end of the angle bar l() as indicated at 15. This arrangement serves to securely mount the bracket 11 in place on the angle bar lll and permits the bracket 11 to have its various associated parts mounted on it before it is tted in position on the angle bar 10.

The bracket 11 includes a vertical ilange 16 to which one end of a relatively short link 17 is pivoted by the pivot pin 19 which pivot pin also receives one end of an arm 2t) of an angular lever 21. The lever 21 may be described as roughly `V-shaped, and it includes a second arm 22 pivoted at its end on a pivot pin 23, mounted on the inner side of one of the arms or ends 1 or 2 of the couch. Also pivoted on the pin 23 is one end of a long link 24 which has its opposite end pivoted at 2S to one end of an intermediate link 26, the opposite end of the intermediate link 26 being pivoted on a pivot pin 18, to which the second end of the short link 17 is connected. The toggle arrangement just described enables the back frame 6, carrying the mattress, to be swung to either the closed position of Fig. l or to the open position of Fig. 2 and aided by locking means to be described, to remain securely and irmly in either position until manually shifted. The links 17, 24 and 26 form a stabilizing arrangement and add stillness and rigidity to the mechanisms. In addition, the three links also permit of mounting the several parts of the device as a unit on the side of the mattress support before the mattress support is tted within the frame.

Mounted for slidable movement on the flange 12 of the bracket 11 is a locking member or latch 27, said locking member or latch 27 being guided in its sliding movement by the guide flanges 28 secured tothe bracket 11. At one end, the latch 27 is offset, as indicated at 29,` said ollset end 29 receiving and retaining one end of a coil spring 30, which has its opposite end attached at 31 to the end of the armltl of lever Z1 adjacent to the pivot pin 19.

Pivoted at 32 on the ilange 16 of the bracket 11, is a lever 33 formed with a cam-piece 34 at one end adjacent to the pivot 32. The lever 33 is in the form of a curved rod carrying a cross bar 35 at its free end. It will, of course, be understood that there are one of these levers edge 39 of several spaced uprights 40 within the frame of the couch and adjacent to the back panel 3 thereof. Each of the uprights 40 is provided near its upper end with a notch 41 with which the rod 38 becomes engaged, as show-n in Fig. 2, when the couch is in its open position and in readiness to be used as a bed. A leaf spring 42 applies the reqnisite pressure on each of the fingers 37 to thereby urge the rod 38 carried thereby, into engagement'with the notches 41 and hold the rod 38 in said notches to lock the frame 6 in its horizontal or open posiy* tion of Fig. 2.

From the foregoing, the Operation of the convertible couch will be readily understood. The normal or closed position of the couch is that shown in Fig. l, wherein it will be seen that the back rest thereof is in the conventional inclined position with its upholstered or cushioned side outermost. The mattress or bedding held by the frame 6 is, at this time, concealed between the rear of the back rest and the back panel 3. At this time, the upper end of the back rest has its padded edge portion 43 firmly I y mattress carrier and operative to engage with and hold resting against the padded portion 44 of the top bar 4.

When it is desired to convert the couch to a bed, or open the couch to the position shown in Fig. 2, the back rest is manually swung forwardly, which is smoothly done because, of the toggle or linkage connection, consisting of the links 17, 26, 24 and lever 21 between the frame 6 and the pivot 23, until the back rest reaches a horizontal position, at which time it will be found that the rod 38 has `entered into engagement with Vthe notches 41 as shown in Fig. 2. To now lock the lever 21 against movement, the levers 33 and connecting rod 35 are swung forwardiy .on the'pivot 32, causing the cam-piece 34 to release the latch 27. The spring 30 draws the latch 2,7 toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 2, and brings the end of the latch into engagement with a notch 45 provided at the junction of the arms 20 and 22 of the angular lever 21. When .the levers 3.3 ,are swung downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 2, the `cam-piece 34 will act as .a lock against the offset end 29 of the latch 27, preventing retraeting or disengaging movement of the latch. With the part-s in Vthe position above described, and as shown in Fig. the 'back-rest now becomes a horizontal support for the kmattress and bedding vand the couch is thus converted to a bed, `with the mattress support securely and .mmovably locked in its horizontal position.

To close the couch it is merely necessary to withdraw the rod 38 from notches 41 and raise the lever 33 which causes the latch 27 to b e retracted out of the notch 45, thus treeing the lever 21 and permitting it to swing the back reist to its inclined position shown in Fig. 1. *l

In describing the operating rnechnisrn for the improved convertible couch, the parts located at one end of the frame 6 have been described, it being understood, of course, that `similar parts are employed at the opposite end.

VThe, construction described is such that when the couch is. in its .open form for occupancy as a bed, the iloor space required is not increased. vThe mattress carried by the frame 6 always remains in place Whether the couch is opened or closed and is always in its extended o r flat condition. Y

While we have herein described one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be rcstricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the Ascope .of the annexed claims.

What we claim is:

l. A convertible couch comprising, a couch body including spaced ends and a back extending between the same, a mattress carrier normally forming a back for the couch, a mattress on said carrier, said mattress carrier being mounted for swinging movement within the couch body, a substantially V-shaped lever having an arm pivotally mounted on o-ne of the ends of the couch body, the lever having a second arm pivotally attached to one end of the mattress carrier, a slidable latch member carried by the mattress carrier, manually-,operated means for moving the latch, said manually-operated means including a part overlying the mattress, means on the lever for engagement by the latch to thereby hold the lever against pivotal movement relative to the carrier when the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position and when said part oi the manually-operated means has been moved from its position over the mattress, and locking means at the rear of the mattress carrier, said locking means being operative when the mattress carrier is disposed in a horizontal position.

2, A convertible couch having a couch body having spaced ends and a back, a mattress-carrier swingingly mounted in the couch body, a pivotal connection between one end of the mattress carrier and the couch body within which the mattress carrier is swingably mounted, said connection including a bell-crank shaped lever pivoted at one end to the end of the mattress carrier and at its other end to the couch body, and a slidable latch carried by the the lever against pivotal movement relative to the carrier when the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position.

3. A convertible couch comprising, a couch body including spaced ends and a back extending between the ends, a mattress carrier normally forming a back rest for the couch, said mattress carrier being mounted for swinging movement within the couch body, a substantially V- shaped lever having an arm pivotally mounted on one of the ends of the mattress carrier, the lever having a second arm pivotally attached to one of the ends of the couch body, a slidable latch member carried by one end of the mattress carrier, the lever having a recess for engagement by said slidable latch member when the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position, means for manually moving said latch member to unlocked position, and supplemental o-clring means for the mattress carrier at the rear end of the same, the latter locking means being operative when the mattress carrier is disposed in a horizontal position, said supplemental locking means including a plurality of spring-actuated iingers connected by a rod, and elements within the couch body behind the mattress carrier for receiving said rod when the mattress carrier is horizontally disposed. f

4. A convertible couch comprising, a couch body including spaced ends and a back extending between the same, a mattress carrier normally forming a back rest for the couch, a mattress borne by said carrier, the mattress carrier being mounted for swinging movement within Vthe couch body, an angular lever pivoted at one end to an end of the mattress carrier, the second c-nd of the angular lever being pivotally attached to one end of the couch body, means for directly engaging said lever and preventing pivotal movement of said lever about its pivotal connection to the mattress carrier while the `mattress carrier is in a horizontal position, said means consisting of a recess in the lever, a slidable latch having an end adapted for engagementfwith said recess, a cam lever operative on the latch to move the same into engagement with the recess when the cam lever is manually moved while the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position, spring means for holding the latch in operative relation to the cam lever, and locking means at the rear of the mattress carrier for preventing pivotal movement of the mattress carrier while said mattress carrier is in a horizontal position.

5. A convertible `couch comprising, a couch Vbody including spaced ends and a back extending between said ends, a mattress carrier normally forming a back rest for the couch, said mattress carrier being mounted for` swinging movement within the couch body, a substantially V-shaped lever having an arm pivotally mounted on one of the ends of the mattress carrier, said lever having a second arm pivotally attached to one of the ends of the couch body, a slidable latch member carried by one end of the mattress carrier, the lever having a recess in one edge at the junction of its two arms for engagement by the slidable latch member when the mattress carrier is located in a horizontal position, spring means extending between the lever and the slidable latch, a cam lever having a bar arranged to either overlie the mattress or else be moved to non-overlying position with respect thereto, said cam lever being operative to move the latch into engagement with the recess in the V-shaped lever when said cam lever is moved to said non-overlying position, and supplemental locking means for the mattress carrier at the rear of the same, the latter locking means being operative when the mattress carrier is disposed in a horizontal position.

6. In a convertible couch, a couch body, a mattress carrier swingably mounted therein whereby said mattress carrier can be positioned in either a vertical or horizontal position, an angular lever at each end of the mattress carrier, one end of said lever being pivoted to the couch body and the Aother end being pivoted to the end of the mattress carrier, latching means for engagement with said lever to hold the same against pivotal u movement about its pivotal connection to the mattress carrier when the mattress carrier is arranged in a horizontal position, rails at the rear of the couch body, leaf springs extending from the rear end of the mattress carrier, a rod extending between the springs and urged into contact with the rails by said springs, the rails being recessed to receive the rod when the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position to thereby lock the carrier in said position, said carrier being locked in horizontal position against pivotal movement by both said rod and the latching means.

7. A convertible couch comprising, a couch body including spaced ends and a back extending between the same, a mattress carrier located between the ends, a mattress on said carrier, a lever pivoted at one end to the mattress carrier, said lever having its opposite end pivotetl to one of the ends of the body, a plurality of pivotally-connected links extending between the opposite ends of the lever, locking means carried by the mattress carrier for engagement with the leverl to hold said lever against pivotal movement relative to the mattress carrier when the mattress carrier is in a horizontal position, mattress-retaining means engaging and holding the mattress on its carrier While the carrier is in a raised position, said locking means being controlled by movement of the mattress-retaining means, and additional locking means carried by the rear of the mattress carrier for engagement with elements on the body when said mattress carrier is in a horizontal position.

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